Backbone, badly bent
EDITORIAL: Calling the district judiciary the backbone of Pakistan’s justice system is entirely appropriate, because this is where most citizens encounter the courts and where confidence in justice is ultimately won or lost. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi’s emphasis on better working conditions, professional resources and institutional support for judicial officers is therefore welcome. But even a…
The district judiciary in Pakistan serves as the backbone of the country's justice system, where most citizens first encounter the courts and where confidence in justice is often forged or eroded. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has called for better working conditions, professional resources, and institutional support for judicial officers, acknowledging the critical role of the district courts in handling an overwhelming caseload with limited resources.
While some recent initiatives, such as solarisation of court complexes, e-libraries, and the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres, have addressed certain aspects of the problem, the overall state of the district courts remains dire. Overcrowded premises, inadequate resources, limited specialization, and widespread corruption continue to plague the system, leaving ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of the judicial burden.
Despite progress in case disposal, with over 1.46 million time-bound cases decided between September 2025 and July 2026, the World Justice Project's 2025 Rule of Law Index ranks Pakistan 129th out of 143 jurisdictions for civil justice and 101st for criminal justice, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms to improve the quality, accessibility, and timeliness of justice.
Brief written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
